Gavin’s wrestling journey began four years ago, as a freshman at Oak Hills. He is now a senior, participating in wrestling throughout his High School career at Oak Hills in winter, and competing in Greco, an olympic-style wresting focused on upper-body grappling and wrestling, in the summer.
Freshman year, Hanshew was a completely different athlete. Previously coached under Gage Branson during his freshman and sophomore years, Hanshew had no real commitment to wrestling. In fact, he was more focused on football.
“I first started wrestling to get stronger for football,” Hanshew explains. “It was then I decided to wrestle all year as I found out I loved the fact that, whether you win or lose, you get what you deserve in the sport”.
Hanshew’s focus shifted from a team-oriented sport with short periods of effort followed by rest on the sideline or a walk back to the line of scrimmage to a very, very different sport.
Wrestling made Hanshew a beast. Watching his film revealed his fighting ability, and I was perplexed. On the surface, Hanshew is very calm, somewhat reserved, and unsuspecting. On the mat, he is a relentless competitor ready to take down his opponent.
“My favorite thing about wrestling is how scrappy and violent matches can get, especially when it’s against a good opponent, because it tests who can break first,” Hanshew says. “I also like the aspect that it’s a combat sport, so you have to learn to deal with pain or fatigue in order to win”.
Hanshew is not only a great wrestler but a great guy. He brings energy to his team, to school, and to youth wrestlers who look up to him. He has an incredible work ethic, drive, and determination that others envy. He started on JV with very few to zero wins. Constantly being on the other side of the whistle marking his opponent’s victory, Hanshew didn’t falter. He persisted and advanced in the wrestling ranks. Now, Hanshew is competing with some of the best kids in the city.
Hanshew didn’t magically get better. He was a man with a plan. Hanshew realized he was late to the sport and needed to lock in if he wanted to be what he thought he could be. He started practicing and working out two to three times a day, which he noted built his “Iron will”.
“I am a firm believer in setting my goals high,” Hanshew explains. “I don’t understand setting your own limitations in a world full of ‘what-ifs’ “.
Truly a hard worker, Hanshew has his sights on placing at State and his team placing All-American. Hanshew is already committed to Mount St. Joseph University, where he will be wrestling in the 133lbs weight class. He continues to aim high, hoping to be a multi-collegiate All-American wrestler.
Truly setting his goals high, Hanshew doesn’t set limits on what he can achieve. After all, why would you in a world of what-ifs?
